Phrasal Verbs: Meaning, Rules, and 100 Important Examples for Exams

Phrasal verbs are an important part of English communication. They are widely used in daily conversations, writing tasks, and competitive examinations. Understanding their meanings and correct usage helps students improve vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension skills. This article provides 100 useful phrasal verbs, clear explanations, practical tips, and exam-focused guidance.

Introduction: Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs are combinations of a verb and a preposition or adverb that create a new meaning different from the original verb. They are commonly used in spoken and written English. For students preparing for competitive examinations, mastering Phrasal verbs is essential because they frequently appear in error detection, fill-in-the-blanks, sentence improvement, comprehension passages, and vocabulary sections.

Understanding their structure and usage improves both accuracy and fluency.

What Are Phrasal Verbs?

A phrasal verb usually consists of:

• A verb + adverb (e.g., give up)
• A verb + preposition (e.g., look after)
• A verb + adverb + preposition (e.g., look forward to)

The meaning of the phrasal verb is often different from the individual words.

Example:
“Give up” does not mean “give” + “up” separately. It means “to quit”.

100 Important Phrasal Verbs with Meanings

1. Abide by – follow
2. Account for – explain
3. Act on – take action
4. Add up – make sense
5. Agree with – support
6. Ask for – request
7. Back out – withdraw
8. Back up – support
9. Bear with – tolerate patiently
10. Blow up – explode
11. Break down – stop working
12. Break into – enter forcefully
13. Break out – start suddenly
14. Break up – end a relationship
15. Bring about – cause
16. Bring up – raise a topic
17. Build up – increase gradually
18. Call off – cancel
19. Call up – telephone
20. Carry on – continue
21. Carry out – execute
22. Catch up – reach same level
23. Check in – register
24. Check out – leave or examine
25. Come across – find by chance
26. Come back – return
27. Come out – be published
28. Come up with – produce an idea
29. Count on – rely on
30. Cut down – reduce
31. Cut off – disconnect
32. Deal with – handle
33. Do away with – eliminate
34. Do without – manage without
35. Draw up – prepare
36. Drop out – quit
37. End up – finally reach
38. Figure out – understand
39. Fill in – complete
40. Fill out – complete a form
41. Find out – discover
42. Get along – have good relations
43. Get away – escape
44. Get back – return
45. Get by – manage
46. Get over – recover
47. Get through – complete
48. Give away – distribute free
49. Give in – surrender
50. Give up – quit
51. Go ahead – proceed
52. Go through – examine
53. Grow up – become adult
54. Hand in – submit
55. Hand over – transfer
56. Hang up – disconnect call
57. Hold on – wait
58. Hold up – delay
59. Keep on – continue
60. Keep up – maintain
61. Knock out – defeat
62. Lay off – dismiss from job
63. Let down – disappoint
64. Let in – allow entry
65. Look after – take care
66. Look for – search
67. Look forward to – await eagerly
68. Look into – investigate
69. Look out – be careful
70. Look up – search information
71. Make out – understand
72. Make up – invent
73. Make up for – compensate
74. Move on – proceed
75. Pass away – die
76. Pass out – faint
77. Pick out – select
78. Pick up – collect
79. Point out – indicate
80. Put away – store
81. Put off – postpone
82. Put on – wear
83. Put out – extinguish
84. Put up – tolerate
85. Put up with – tolerate patiently
86. Run into – meet unexpectedly
87. Run out of – exhaust supply
88. Set up – establish
89. Show up – appear
90. Sort out – arrange
91. Speak up – talk louder
92. Stand by – support
93. Take after – resemble
94. Take off – remove
95. Take over – assume control
96. Take up – start a hobby
97. Turn down – reject
98. Turn up – appear
99. Work out – solve
100. Write down – note

Important Tips for Competitive Exams

1. Learn phrasal verbs in context rather than memorizing isolated meanings.
2. Practice identifying separable and inseparable phrasal verbs.
3. Pay attention to prepositions in error detection questions.
4. Read newspaper editorials regularly to observe real usage.
5. Practice previous year question papers to understand exam patterns.
6. Focus on commonly tested phrasal verbs like give up, look after, call off, carry out.
7. Maintain a personal notebook for revision.

Common Mistakes Students Should Avoid

• Using wrong prepositions.
• Translating directly from native language.
• Ignoring tense agreement.
• Forgetting object placement in separable phrasal verbs.

Example:
Correct: Turn off the light.
Correct: Turn the light off.
Incorrect: Turn off it.

FAQs on Phrasal Verbs

1. Why are phrasal verbs important in competitive exams?

Phrasal verbs frequently appear in grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, and sentence correction sections. Strong knowledge improves accuracy and scores.

2. How can I remember phrasal verbs easily?

Learn them in sentences, revise regularly, and practice through mock tests and daily reading.

3. Are phrasal verbs used in formal writing?

Some are informal, but many are commonly accepted in formal communication. Understanding context is important.

Conclusion: Phrasal Verbs

Mastering Phrasal verbs is essential for improving English communication skills and scoring well in competitive examinations. Regular practice, contextual learning, and revision can help students gain confidence. With consistent effort, Phrasal verbs become easy to understand and apply correctly in both spoken and written English.

Disclaimer:

This article is for educational purposes only. Students are advised to refer to official exam syllabi and standard grammar books for detailed preparation.

Also Read: Examples of Compound Sentences: 100 Clear and Simple Sentences for Students

Indian English Grammar Tips: 100 Practical Examples for Students and Competitive Exams